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Monday, June 22, 2015

DOST-ICT to hold Multi-Stakeholders ICT Forum

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) - The Information and
Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) will be holding the Multi-Stakeholders ICT Forum on June 26,
2015 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City.

According to DOST-ICTO cluster director Eva May C.
Dela Rosa, the said affair will be graced by Assistant Secretary Beatrice
“Bettina” Quimson and other officers from the Field Operations Office.

The DOST-ICTO will roll-out its projects such as
the TECH4ED Program, TV White Space (for the last mile connectivity for areas
with no internet signal), and the Free Public WiFi.

“With this activity, we aimed to formulate plans
and programs on how we could cascade these projects effectively to our
constituents especially in the barangay level,” bared Dela Rosa.

For more information, the ICT Agusan del Norte
provincial office can be reached at telephone number (085) 225-9264.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)

AgNor guv bares 2014 accomplishments

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Agusan del Norte
governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba bared significant accomplishments
of her administration during her second State of the Province Address (SOPA)
held last June 17 at the Provincial Covered Court, this city.

Governor Matba reported that in 2014, a total of
358 hectares were distributed to 252 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the province
and a total of 6,419 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries were trained in various
livelihood and income generating activities.

It was also learned that to ensure food
sustainability, the province had established a buffer stocks for rice by
importing 13,968 bags in 2014.

The province additionally bagged the Gawad Saka
Award in 2014 for its outstanding performance that manifests successful outcome
of the programs and services of the government in sustaining food security and
nation building.

Last year, Agusan del Norte spearheaded and
supervised the implementation of 36 different infra projects worth P238
million. A project worth P43 million was constructed along the Agusan-Bukidnon
road beginning at Calayagon, Buenavista and stretching 2.86 kms towards Guinabsan
section of the Buenavista-Bunaguit Road.

She also relayed that the province continued to
energize the farthest communities and have connected an additional 381
households in 22 barangays.

Moreover, the lady governor said that a total of
7,500 copies of AgNor Bulletin, the official newsletter of the province, were
distributed weekly to empower the constituency.

"The
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) also contributed largely to our information
drive. Likewise, the PAGASA ably provided the province with up to date
information of weather observations," added Matba.

In terms of local legislation, a total of 29
ordinances were enacted and 321 resolutions covering areas on governance,
administration, social development, economic development and environmental
management were passed.

Matba’s leadership had also targeted strategic
action areas in ensuring that the thrusts of protecting and rehabilitating the
environment are pursued. These include: Mangrove reforestation in Carmen,
Cabadbaran & Buenavista; Provincewide riverbank stabilization;
Province-wide reforestation; and construction of climate change resilient infra
facilities.

The SOPA was attended by the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan members, regional offices’ executives, local mayors, PNP
officials, government employees and constituents. (JPG/DJA/NCLM/PIACaraga)

DFA inaugurates Butuan consular office

By Daisy Jane M. Apit

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – Passport application
and renewal and other services of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will
now be more accessible and comfortable at the agency’s new home.

The DFA-Butuan Regional Consular Office formally
inaugurated on Sunday its new office at Robinsons Place, this city.

"We are proud to say that we will be serving
more people in a convenient way. It is hoped that this public-private
partnership relationship will continue to prosper in the years to come for a
more developed region and country as a whole," said DFA Undersecretary for
Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Rafael Seguis.

The DFA Butuan is the 13th Regional Consular
Office to transfer to the mall under the Public Private Partnership (PPP)
program of the government and will provide world class consular services to the
city and the five provinces of the region—Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

"This is a fulfillment of our dreams to bring
in one roof the satellite offices of key agencies. We are truly glad that this
has been a step to achieve our common goal which to excellently serve our
Filipino people," said Robinsons Land Corporation operations director for
Luzon Irving Wu.

The establishment of the Regional Consular Office
in the city was in response to the clamor of the people of Caraga region to
provide passport services saving them travel expenses and the burdensome trip
to Cagayan de Oro or Davao City. Applicants from the region need not travel
anymore for more than 300 kilometers to these cities to apply for passport
since they can now apply in Butuan, which is the center of commerce in the
region.

Ceremonial ribbon cutting immediately followed
after the short program. It was led by DFA and LGU officials and was witnessed
by the regional offices’ directors, business sector, academe and media
partners. (JPG/DJA/VLG/NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

Agnor inks MOA with PCIC

By Nora L. Molde

BUTUAN CITY, June 22 (PIA) – With the aim to
ensure the development of the agriculture sector of the lone city and
municipalities of the province of Agusan del Norte, the province represented by
its governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba signed a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) on June
16 here.

The coverage of the MOA includes the insurance of
the agri-fishery projects and programs of the province.

Governor Matba believes that there is a need to
insure all the agri-fishery projects and programs of the province. “In order to
protect the farmers and fishermen from the harmful effects of climate change
and other natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, drought, earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions as well as plant diseases and pest infestations, thus this
agreement was crafted,” governor Matba said.

“The province of Agusan del Norte will shoulder
the 100 percent of the total premium cost of selected marginalized farmers and
fisher folks subject to the eligibility requirements,” governor Matba added.

The agreement was signed by governor Matba, PCIC
board of director chairman Dioscoro A. Granada, and being witnessed by Agusan
del Norte and PCIC heads.

During the signing of agreement, Atty. Rosa M.
Gatinao, regional manager of PCIC region 10 turned-over a cheque amounting to
P12,108,432 to governor Matba. The amount covers insurance claims of the 889
farmers/livestock farmers covering a total of 1,485.14 hectares of the
province.

PCIC is a government-owned and controlled
corporation, existing under and virtue of Presidential Decree (PD) 1467, as
amended by Republic Act 8175 to provide insurance cover to rice, corn, high
value commercial crops, livestock, fisheries, non-crop agricultural assets and
the lives and limbs of the farmers and fisher folks.

PCIC is also mandated to provide and has been
providing insurance protection to all agricultural and fishery programs of the
government including its farmers and fishermen for loss and damages due to
plant pest, diseases and pest infestations and the impact of weather and
climate change. (NCLM/PIA-Caraga)

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, June 22 (PIA) -
With the theme, “Stretching the Boundaries of Cruise Tourism,” the provincial
government of Surigao del Norte was invited to attend the 2nd Edition of Global
Cruise Tourism Conference and Exhibition (GCTCE 2015) which will take
center-stage in Malaysia from August 7 to 10, this year.

As a result of the market encounter in the World
Travel Mart in London, England last November 2014, Provincial Tourism in-charge
Arturo Cruje said that the province is among the list of potential cruise
tourism destinations in the country.

Early this year, a cruise ship with a capacity of
almost 300 passengers visited Siargao, more particularly the Bucas Grande
Islands and the municipality of General Luna which is home to World Surfing
Cup, International Beach Volleyball and International Women’s Surfing
Competition.

This is in line with the thrust of Governor Sol
Matugas to explore new market niche for the local tourism industry. The
governor, according to Cruje, stressed the potentials of the river and mangrove
systems for cruise tourism which is an ecosystem activity.

Cruje added that the World Tourism Organization
(WTO) reported that the cruise tourism is a fast growing market niche in the
global travel industry.

Cruising is gaining momentum in terms of holiday
vacation choices, and more cruise liners are taking precedence in ASEAN
terminals to put up with this niche sector, he said. (SDR/PIC-Surigao del
Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Mindanawon tops ADB project management training in
Malaysia

DAVAO CITY, June 22 (PIA) - A Philippine
representative was cited for excellent performance in the “Regional Training on
Project Management” for BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT held recently at the Universiti
Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia.

Gemma Dagaas, development management officer IV of
the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), received special recognition for
‘Best Project Proposal’ along with her five team members who presented during
the training conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its Advancing
Regional Cooperation and Integration through the BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT.

BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia
Malaysia the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, while IMT-GT stands for
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Area. The two sub-regional groupings were
formed with the goals of promoting trade, investment, and tourism in
less-developed states and provinces.

Dagaas and her team members from Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia presented the project proposal entitled
“BIMP-EAGA E-Commerce Business Project,” aimed to create a conducive business
environment that attracts and promotes trade, investment, and entrepreneurship.
The proposal also highlights the crucial role of online businesses in promoting
cross-cutting projects that will improve the quality of life and narrow digital
divide among entrepreneurs in the economic sub-grouping.

Intended to enhance capabilities of key
secretariat personnel of the sub-regional groupings, the training was
undertaken by ADB in partnership with the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (FC)
and the Center for IMT-GT Sub-regional Cooperation (CIMT).

Two dozen trainees from five participating
countries were grouped into multi-country learning teams to facilitate
participatory learning and encourage cross-cultural exchange. It was an exercise of convergence between the
southeast ASEAN nations as they flex their muscles in anticipation of the wider
regional economic integration in Southeast Asia.

“It is a microcosm of what the subregions are
working to achieve—regional cooperation to participate and benefit from the
larger ASEAN Economic Community,” said Dagaas of the training.

As the Philippine Coordinating Office for the
BIMP-EAGA (PCOBE) covering Mindanao and Palawan, MinDA sent Dagaas as its
trainee. She was joined by Marilou
Laguting, chief of staff and supervising trade and industry development
specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry Region XI.

The training was participated in by officials and
members of sub-regions’ cluster and working groups, staff of BIMP-EAGA FC and CIMT,
and representatives from education or training institutions expected to
organize national training programs.

As development partner and adviser to the
sub-regions since 1996, ADB supports ASEAN activities and provides technical
assistance to help sub-regions align their priorities with the ASEAN agenda.

“This training sharpens our competencies in
design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of projects, enabling us
to come up with efficiently designed and implemented projects critical in ASEAN
community building,” said Dagaas.

These skills will enable the BIMP-EAGA and IMT GT
secretariats to translate sub-regional strategies, roadmaps, and plans into
concrete and realistic projects that will enable it to benefit from the wider
regional integration.

The convergence also established a network of
project management professionals in the sub-regions and equipped the
secretariat to facilitate the development of good project proposals for
resource mobilization and help stakeholders in project management.
(MinDA/PIA-Caraga)